Global Warming & the Bush Administration

Global warming is now real, at least to the Bush administration. That's the subject of this evening's Talking Points Memo.

I have never understood the resistance to the concept of global warming. It's certainly happening here in New York. When I was a kid, we used to be able to skate on frozen ponds for two months. Now if you get a week of natural ice, that's a cold winter.

Anyway, the truth is that no one but God really knows why the climate is changing, but many reputable scientists say there's no question that things are heating up fast, and they have the data to prove it.

For the first time, the Bush administration is acknowledging that fossil fuels are the reason, and that makes sense, although we can't be 100 percent positive.

Now, some conservatives like Rush Limbaugh recoil at all this global warming theory, but again, what's the big deal? The earth is getting warmer, and whether it is because of man or nature is pretty much beside the point.

On his radio program today, Mr. Limbaugh criticized the president, saying, "George W., Al Gore, anyone?" Come on, there's no downside to developing cost-efficient cleaner fuel. The USA should be trying to become energy self-sufficient and should be looking hard at hydrogen power.

With the tremendous technology that's developing, we should be able to get away from fossil fuel if we can.

Now, I'm no fanatical Green Giant, I wouldn't have signed the Kyoto Treaty because it would have hurt America economically while giving other polluting nations a pass. Yes, we use the most energy in the world, but we also drive the world's economy and protect the world from madmen like bin Laden.

Even though President Bush has not yet developed a visionary fuel strategy, I give him credit for being honest. He could have fogged up the global warming report and not acknowledged the problem at all. Once again, Mr. Bush seems like an honest man. He could have easily spun the report his way.

Now, America needs to stop arguing over the cause of global warming and begin a disciplined 10-year plan to use fewer polluting agents, more conservation, and tons more innovation.

Tax credit for alternative fuels should be ramped up.

Once again, who opposes this beside people making money from fossil fuels? Does anyone like acid rain? Does anyone want L.A. smog in their neighborhood? Let's stop the polarizing political nonsense and start working together to improve the environment and expand our wallet size.

Cheap, clean energy is possible. Let's get it.

And that's the memo.

The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day

Time for "The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day."

It has come to this. The demand for Factor gear has exploded, and now there is ready, you decide collection of ties for guys. I'm not making this up. Sorry, Dave Barry. There are Factor ties, no spin zone ties, fair and balanced neckware, along with many others. They are dazzling and we'll send your CNN friends running in horror.

Dillards department stores in Houston, Phoenix, Nashville, Cleveland, and Tampa have them. So does our Web site. And if you think this is ridiculous, don't blame me. Supply and demand dictate. They came to us. So if you decide the you decide ties are for you, Father's Day is coming up. Don't blame me on this. Nothing to do with it.